It’s six of the best for Mourinho! Chelsea boss not ready to give up on Champions League

JOSE MOURINHO has told his players and Chelsea's fans: If you give up on us now, I don't want you near the club.

Jose Mourinho believes that Chelsea can still advance in the Champions League[GETTY]

Chelsea's season has been derailed by three consecutive away defeats. Losing at Aston Villa and Crystal Palace has left them two points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League, while Wednesday's 3-1 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain leaves them a huge ask to progress in the Champions League.

Chelsea boss Mourinho, critical of his team in Paris, was back to his rallying best as he prepares his side for the visit of Stoke today and the second leg against PSG on Tuesday.

"We have six matches to play in the league and the moment we don't want to give everything to win all those matches is when we are not good professionals," he said. "I won't accept that about me or my players. Let's go for it.

"I'm not going to rest eight players against Stoke because we have no chance in the league and can beat PSG. I'm saying go for it, go for the six matches and try to win them.

We have six matches to play in the league and the moment we don't want to give everything to win all those matches is when we are not good professionals

Jose Mourinho

"This is the moment to say the Champions League is not over, far from it. If a player doesn't believe it's not over, it's better to stay at home. If any supporter thinks it is not possible, it is better they stay at home and watch Dortmund v Real Madrid on TV.

"It's not over. That's the most important thing to say, it's not over."

Chelsea's hopes in the Champions League have been boosted by the news Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ruled out of the return leg with a hamstring injury. But they have injury problems of their own up front with Samuel Eto'o ruled out of today's match also with a hamstring injury and a doubt for Tuesday.

Mourinho will instead have to rely on the much maligned Fernando Torres. Mourinho left Torres out of the starting line-up in Paris and was less than impressed by his performance in the final half-hour bemoaning his lack of "real strikers".

Yesterday Mourinho insisted, with minimal conviction, that Torres still has a future at Chelsea, saying he is a model pro who gives his all.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is injured for the return leg [GETTY]

He also said he wants more from Torres, who has scored only four Premier League goals this season, but shook his head in bemusement when it was put to him that if Torres is giving his all, how can he expect more from the Spaniard.

He said: "At 30 he is not going to add new qualities to those he has and the profile of the player he is. He gives what he can. We respect that, I respect that. That's why he keeps playing and we keep trusting him and believe he still has things to give."

Poignantly, though, when asked if Chelsea can afford to pay £50million to buy a replacement striker, Mourinho said: "Chelsea can do that. Chelsea can't do that with four or five players and spend £250m. But we can do it with one player, that's possible, yes.

"People who think 20 players are leaving and 20 new ones coming, that is not going to happen."